Fluid passage swivel joint



Aug. 3, 1943. A. H. JUNG FLUID PASSAGE SWIVEL JOINT Original Filed Aug.15, 1941 Q 5 6 m n A I! n /b\ WIN W Illll.

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fUNlTED FLUID PASSAGE svvivai, iornr Albert H. Jung Flushing, N. Y.,assigncr to United American Metals Corporation, Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New "York Application llugust 13,1941, SerialNo. 406,681

r 4 Claims. (01.

i This invention relates to double sided rotatable fluid cooled moldsand more particularlyto fluid passages therefore including swiveljoints.

This application is a continuaticndn-p'art of my copending applicationSerial Numb-erB'lOfl i8 filed December 18, 1949,;which in turn is adivision of my application Serial Number 283,484 filed July 8, 1939,which has matured into Patent Number 2,234,528 on March 11, 1941. f

Prior to the instant invention it has been customary to provide fluidcooled molds which were relatively difficult and expensive tomanufacture and generally unsatisfactory with regardgto operation'because of inefiicient fluid connections, bearings, and fluiddistribution.

1 i In prior constructions involving rotating dumping molds, littleattention has been paid to plated but such constructions have notbeenfound to be satisfactory as they are continually in the operators wayand make forinefliciency .in operation. The utilizationof swivelconnec-.tions including shoulders and packing rings has also been contemplatedand in such constructions it has been customary to provide a spring inorder to maintain the packing under compression continually in anendeavor to eliminate -leaking and inefiicient operationof the ,swivelconnection. Such constructions, however, have not beeni found to beentirely satisfactory, particularly under conditions found in the fieldsuch as when the connection is also utilized as a bearing and is subjectto stresses and also when the fluid medium to be passed through theswivel connection is subjected to heatwhereby the com- 'bined action ofthe stress, heat and continual rotation acting on the joint, make "itessential that the inherent construction of the joint ;be of suchcharacter as to be capable of withstanding these forcesi'and tocontinuouslymaintain the joint in substantially leakproof condition.

It is an object of the instantinvention to provide a novel fiuid cooledrotatable multi-sided dumping mold of such-character as to simultaneously lend itseif to ready fabrication and operation and provide forrelatively efiicient passage of thermal heat exchange fluidtherethrough.

It is a further object of the instant invention Qther objects andthenature advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 'fol-.

lowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein;

Fig. 1-1;: a fragmentary view in perspective of a double-sided twin setof rotating dumping molds incorporating fluid passage swivel joints inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is .a fragmentary detail vertical sectional tion'and partly inelevation jdisclosing a. tapered faceted collar-"like projection; and

Figure 5 is a viewsimilar to Eigure'4 but a modified form of facetedarrangement. 7 Referring to the .drawin'g, a framework i ii maygenerally comprise a series of pipes ll joined by connectors 52 to forina substantiallyrectangik lar structure. From'the connectors l 2 .thereextend vertical 'pipe's jii, and roller supports 14 whereby .the entiremold apparatus mayfhe readily moved about at the convenience of theoperator Ti section lengths of structural steel is extend across theupper portion of the apparatus and involve the Tdual fun'ction ofsupport ing the swiv'ellconnector bearings iii?) and lie,

.seeFig. 1, and engagingthe stops il r nuunted on the front. end of therotatable molds i3 and 13;;

respectively. The T- section length 1.5 is secured to the upstanding.pipe members vl3 by the threaded capseii'which engage correspondingthreaded upper portions of the pipes 13 extend.- ingthrough theTJsection lengths i5, Mounted substantially centrallyof the stops l arethe handles 2! whereby the operator may rotate the molds 53 a castingactlvity.

iga as desired in accordance with The combined conduit swivel andbearing 1! Sb may be connected .to a conduit leading from source, notshown, of cooling ,fiuid such as cool.-

ing water .or with the conduit 35 leading from mold I 8 through; swivelconnector ltfc.

To provide for the ingress and egress of heat exchange fluid' 'to' therotating mold a swivel angularlccnnector ls which in turn is threadedi-to stationary pipesectionlili which is provided with an annular collar.45 undercut. on bothtsides 45a and 1512. The undercut sides of thecollar '45 are adapted to engage the packing rings 36 as shown in Fig.2. The gland il may be formed integral, with the mold iSaand be cappedby y the packingscrew plug (38 which is in threaded and the plane ofthis taper generally slopes in a 58 to -provide communication with itsinterior 59 from the interior of the-stationary pipe 22. The

- rotatable. connector element 68 communicates direction opposite to theslope of the undercut g side 65b of the collar 45. It is to be borne inmind that the mold Ida is adapted to be rotated about the stationarypipe section 4 and that the angular collar 35 formed integral therewithserves to prevent the leakage of fluid transferred between the interiorof the pipe section 54 and to effect an efiicient seal without'thenecessity of the utilization of any springs or other parts because ofthe particular shape of the collar ,5 which is undercut as shown in Fig.2. Not only does the undercutting of the collar We serve to best holdthe packing 456 against the exterior 5i of the pipe-like element 45 butbecause of the undercutting, the path of leakage around the collar 45against which the packing &5 acts is increased without the utilizationof any additional elements and, therefore, the particular shape oi thecollar 45 serves to increase the efficiency of the seal and therebyeffects a new result. The combined action of the undercut collar and theparticular shape of the end face of the screw'plug G3 and the inner sideof the rear wall of the gland ll' serves to more uniformlyeifect theholding of the packing against the exterior wall 5! of the pipe-likeelement 44 and this is essential particularly when the swivel jointis'used as abearing and is subject to'stress and also after continueduse of'the device in which the packing'may or may not be of ahomogeneous nature. The specific construction of the undercut collar andassociated parts as described serves to'prolong the life of the packingbecause of themoreuniform compression of same and utilization of thepacking under pressure against the exterior 5i of the element 44. Underthe conditions found in the field wherein the joint shown in the.drawing has been subjected to stress when the combination is used inconnection with the rotation of heavy metal molds, heat which istransmitted through the joint into the packing from the cooling of themetal withinthe mold and continued friction because of more, or lesscontinuous operation of the mold, the joint has been substantially leak.

'proof for long periods of time.

jprise a body portion 53 and packing nut 5fl, as well as packing rings55 which cooperate with the rotatable element 56 which has formedthereon the annular collar 5'! which is drilled at Fig. 2. ate with thetapered ends. 54a and 53a to hold the packing 55 against the exteriorwall of the the interior of the mold is, that is, the passage 28, withthe interior'fiii of the element 5 5 and is threaded to the mold i8 andthe element 56. The annular collar 5'5 is undercut on its sides 5la and5'51). The packing nutit is undercut on its end Li ia and thelbodyportion 53 of the gland 52 is tapered at 53a whereby the same wedgingaction takes place as set forth in connection with the form of thedevice shown in The undercut sides 51a and 51b cooperelement ttzwhich isadjacent the annular collar The combined swivel fluid connector and moldbearings illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 are not only adapted to serve aspassages for the thermal exchange fiuid between the pipe exterior of themold and the molds interior, but they serve as supporting bearings forthe rotating molds. Accordingly, the elements iiib and lee are designedto be stress transmitting and to prevent leakage otherwise presentbecause bearing stress tends to aggravate leakage tendencies due solelyto fluid pressure in swivel joints. In accordance with the invention,leakage is prevented by the provision of an annular undercut collar andthe association and cooperation of packing with the undercut sides ofthe collar and the tapered walls of the elements forming the ends of thepacking gland, whereby the packing is held against the exterior wall ofthe pipe section within the packing rings in a novel manner. In theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the collar is stationary. In theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the collar 5'? is rotatable and inaddition it forms an inlet passage. This latter construction is adaptedto be used in connection with molds which are not specially cast toreceiving a swivel connection such as illustrated in Fig. 2.

As has been explained in detail above,'the molds in accordance with theinvention are generally'superior to previous molds for they may bereadily fabricated as by-casting and permit the fiow therethr'ough'oiheat transfer fluid without the use of movable flexible pipes.

In operation, the mold l8 after being filled may be rotated'bygraspingthe handle 2i which may comprise a revoluble insulated part andimp-arting thereto an oscillatory motion, thereby effecting dumping ofingots solidified within one side of the mold. this time, the mold- Edamay be filled and ready for dumping and the handle of that moldisoscillated, effecting the emptying of one'side ofthat mold. While themold lea is befilled and when the filling operation of that mold iscompleted the second side of the mold itw may be filledwith'molten metalto be cast into ingots. Bythe time-thesecond side of the mold I82) isfilledthe mold idea is again ready for dumping and the cycle describedrepeated;

The above method or" operation is relatively efficient with regard'tothe utilization of the time of a single operator working on adouble-sided twin mold such as illustrated in Fig. 1 and filling andcasting may be substantially continuous.

In accordance with the invention, not only does the hot molten metalwithin the cavities transfer its latent heat of fusionthrough the sidewalls thereof to the heat exchange cooling fluid, but the side walls ofthe bottom empty cavities act as oceans finsto also transmit heat fromthe"'side=walls and bottoms of the filled cavities to the cooling *fluidcontacting the side walls of these empty cavities, whereby rapid coolingpermitting rapid substantially continuous casting maybe iiected.

In accordance with the invention the combined fluid passage swivelconnectors andbearings are so designed that the packing gland housesatubular conduithaving' an integral annular undercut collar-likeprojection which cooperates with packing rings which in turn cooperatewith'the tapered end walls'of the gland housing or elements which formthe gland housing 50 that an efficient leakpioof joint is provided thatdoes notinterfere with the passageoffluid atherethrough, and by itsnature is capable of carrying bearing stresses of a;character*-found ina rotatable metal mold of the character described. Referring toFigures 4and 5, wherein is shown "two forms of the inventionsornewhat modifiedfrom the construction shown in Figure 2, the

tubular elements idlaud 2%! correspond to the 7 element bl shown inFigure 2. The undercut faces I licvand M52) of the collar-likeprojection- 155 as well asthe undercut face i i-8a of the packing nutHi8 andthe taperedface iii-la of the element Ml are each made up ofaplurality of relatively small facetsf separated from each other by arelativel'y small horizontal dimension ex- U tending inwardiy from theouter, end of each facet with respect to theflaxis of the tubularelement iiii as shown in Figure 4; in Figure 5, the small facets; if onthe undercut faces 245a and i 2451) of the collar-like element 255formed intefrom the outer end of each face relative to the axis of thetubular element 255. The sawtoothed arrangement of the tapered endundercut faces serves to better hold the packing against the sealingsurfaces including the packing nut, the exterior cylindrical surfaces ofthe tubular element andothecollar-like projection whereby the desiredseal for the rotating swivel joint is more effectively accomplished,particu-' larly when the swivel joint is subjected to temperatureconditions and bearing stresses which are relatively severe as when theswivel joint is used in connection with a rotatable water cooled metalmold for the casting of-metal ingotsas above set forth.

While the faceted constructions for the collarlike projection in thepacking nut face and the inner face of the element with which itcooperates as shown in Figures 4 and 5, have been described as beingmodifications which could be incorporated in the combination show rinFig. 2, it is to be understood that this faceted'cOnstruction can alsobe incorporated in the, form of the combination shown in Fig. 3.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe'rnadein this device without departing frornthe spirit of theinvention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown inthe drawingand described in the specification but only as indicated inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined fluid passage swivel connection and bearing for arotatable fluid cooled heavy metal mold section comprising a straighthorizontal tubular member secured to said section and being rotatabletherewith, a stationary gland continually subjectedtoheat given'off bysolidifying molten metal, a rotatable element mounted within said' glandprovided with an integrally formed annular undercut collar-likeprojection, said rotatable element being hollow and having passagesextending through said collar-like pro- 7 jection to its hollowinterior, said hollow interior communicating with said tubular elementand in turn with the interior of said rotatable mold section which isadapted to have heat exchange fluid pass therethrough,. packing ringswithin said gland arranged on said rotatable element and in contact withthe undercut side walls of theprojection formed thereon, a packing nutengaging said packing and co-operating with said gland in screw threadedrelation, the inner face of said packing nut which contacts said packingbeing undercut and tapered inwardly toward the axis-of said nut, theinner end of said gland which is atthe opposite end thereof in relationto said packing nut having a face which is tapered in a directiongenerally opposite to the inner face of said packing nut, said glandbeing provided with an opening in alignment with the passages throughsaid rotatableelernent and an inlet pipe connected with the gland at thesaid opening whereby heat exchange fluid maybe passed to the interior ofsaidincld section through said combined bearing and swivel connector,the undercutiaces of said. collar-like projection cooperating with theundercut inner face of saiclpacking nut andthetapered inner end wall ofsaid glandto holdthe said packing rings against the exterior wall ofsaid rotatable element in a manner to effect a substantial leak proofjoint;

2. A combined fluid passage swivel connection and bearing for arotatable fluid cooled heavy metal mold section comprising a packinggland directly associated with saidsection and being continuallysubjected to heat/given off by solidifying molten metal, a tubularelement formed with a collar-like projection thereon having undercutside faces located within said packing gland, said tubular element beingconnected to said rotatable section and a stationary conduit, saidtubular element and said packing gland be-- ing relatively rotatablewith'respect to each 7 other, a packing nut in saidpacking gland, aninner end wall formed in said packing gland, the inner end wall of saidpacking nut being undercut and the inner wall of, said packing glandbeing tapered in a direction generally opposite to the innerend wall ofsaid packing nut, packing rings located about said tubular element andadjacent the undercut faces of said collar-like said undercut faces andtapered end walls cooperating with said packing to hold same againstsaid tubular element in order to effect a substantially leak proofjoint, the undercut side faces of the collar-like projection, theundercut inner end wall of the packing nut, and the tapered face on theinner wall of said packing gland each comprising a plurality ofrelatively small tapered facets offset from each other by a relativelysmall horizontal dimension extending in a direction inwardly and fromthe outer end of each relatively small facet beginning at the outer endof each facet with respect to the axis of said tubular element.

3. A combined fluid passage swivel connection and bearing for arotatable fluid cooled heavy metal mold section comprising a packinggland directly associated .with said-section and being continuallysubjected to heat given ,ofiby, solidifying'molten metal, a tubularelement formed with a collar-like projection thereon having undercutsideiaces located Within said packing gland, said tubular element beingconnected to said rotatable section and a stationary conduit,

said tubular element and said'packing igland being relatively rotatablewith" respect toi each other, a packing nut in said packing gland; an

inner end well formed in said packing gland, the inner end Wall of saidpacking nutbeing undercut and the inner Wall of said packingv glandbeing tapered in a direction generally opposite to the inner end wall ofsaid packing nut, packing rings located about saidtubular element andadjacentthe undercut facesor" said collar-like projection and the endwall of said packing 'nut and'the inner end Wall of said packing gland,said undercut'faces and-tapered end Walls coj'operating with saidpacking'to hold same against said tubular element in order to efiect asubstantially leak proof joint, the undercut side faces of'thecollar-likeprojection, the undercut inner end wall of the'packing nut,and the ta- 'pered face on theinner Wall of said packing glandeach'comprising a pluralityoi relatively small tapered facets ofisetfrom each other by a relatively small horizontal dimension extending ina direction outwardly and from the outer end of each relatively smallfacet beginning at theouter end of each facet With respect to the axisof saidtubular element.

,fying molten metal, a tubular element formed with a collar-likeprojection thereon having un- .dercut side faces located within saidpacking gland, said tubular element being connected to said rotatablesection and a stationary conduit, said tubular element and said packinggland be.- ing relatively rotatable with respect to each other, apacking nut in saidpacking gland, an

, inner end Wall formed in said packing gland,

the inner end Wall of said packing nut being undercut and the inner Wallof said packing gland being tapered in a direction generally op.- positeto theinner end wall of said packing nut, packing rings located aboutsaidtubular element and adjacent the undercutfifaces of'said collar-likeprojection and the end wall of said packing nut and the inner end Wallof said packinggland, said undercut faces and tapered end Wallscooperating with aid packing to hold same againstsaid tubular element inorder to effect a substantially leak proof joint, the undercut sidefaces of the collar-like projection, the undercut inner end Wall of thepacking nut, and the tapered face on the inner ,wall of said packinggland each. comp-rising a plurality of relatively small tapered facetsoffset from each other by a relatively small horizontal dimension.

ALBERT H. JUNG.

